The transfer portal hasn’t exactly been kind to the Wildcats since opening on Monday. Several defensive starters, as well as a number of players expected to be key contributors on offense next season, have all elected to look for new homes. On Wednesday, that continued, as starting defensive backs Tacario Davis, Dalton Johnson, and Treydan Stukes entered the transfer portal.
Tacario Davis
Davis entered his third in Tucson as a projected first-round NFL Draft pick. The former AP Second-Team All-Pac-12 Selection lead the league last season with 15 PBU, and also returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown in the UA’s season-opening victory over NAU. This year, Davis recorded 44 tackles, including two TFL, as well as one QBH and six PBU, garnering Second Team All-Big 12 Honors. Davis has struggled turning deflections into takeaways, with just one interceptions in 30 career games.
Dalton Johnson
Dalton Johnson, the ‘unofficial fourth captain on defense’ this season, is also entering the transfer portal. The 2024 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention led the Wildcats with 94 tackles this season, including five TFL. Johnson also had two forced fumbles for the UA during the 2024 campaign. Arguably Arizona’s best open-field tackler over the last two seasons, Johnson finishes his career in Tucson with 189 tackles, two sacks, one interception, four PBU, six forced fumbles, and a blocked kick in 38 games.
Treydan Stukes
Treydan Stukes is the third defensive captain to enter the transfer portal this season. After being described as the “best kept secret in college football” during Spring Camp by then-defensive coordinator Duane Akina, Stukes suffered a season-ending knee injury in Arizona’s top 10 road victory over Utah in September. Prior to the injury, Stukes tallied 18 tackles, an interception, and two PBU for the Wildcats. During his five years in Tucson, Stukes amassed 154 career tackles, including 11 TFL, and three interceptions.
Given that Tacario Davis, Dalton Johnson, and Treydan Stukes did not formally announced their plans to enter the transfer portal via social media, there is some belief that they could return to the Wildcats next season. Given the timeline for his return to the field after the knee injury, Treydan Stukes is the mostly likely of the three to return to Tucson for another season.
The Wildcats now have over fifty percent of their defensive starters from the 2024 season in the transfer portal after linebacker Jacob Manu, defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, and safety Gunner Maldonado entered the portal earlier in the week.